The guys that run to the portal cuz their coach is a meanie are the ones who get trucked by running backs.
We would find ways to lose the most important games that wouldn't have been believable even in Hollywood. Also didn't survive the Auburn, Georgia & Kentucky gauntlet in November each year very well.
My first game was in Jacksonville and Wes Chandler scored a touchdown and dunk over the goal post and hurt himself. Then Georgia won.
According to 27/7 we have the 11th highest blue chip ratio in the country. On that list, we are by far the worst peforming team (depending on your opennion of A&M). I do not think the talent argument flys here. Now if we want to say they are young or underpeforming, that is a different conversation.
My first game was against Kentucky in 1967. Harmon Wages was the QB. Ran across the field to get to the locker room to see the players come out after the game. Some real nice man gave me a pen so I could get autographs. Watching the highlight show the next day and it turns out that man was Harmon Wages Father. I think the Gators won 28-12?
Yeah, but even then if we just had a modest improvement on defense from Grantham we would have had a pretty successful year. I don't believe any year has to be a throw away and it definitely shouldn't be considered that by a coaching staff. Maybe it's just semantics because you know youth and new players will have issues but a coach is supposed to adapt and overcome along the way. People will be forgiving if games are lost as long as they see a cogent plan and improvements along the way.
As i have said before UF has as much talent (much more than Kentucky) as most SEC schools has. The issue its coaching, bad coaching from the top and now that Napier has refused to give up play calling the future (win wise) isnt bright.
Spent some time with Harmon when he returned to Jacksonville in the mid 80’s. He had some great UF stories, particularly about THBC and the development of Gatorade. A good guy, Norville really messed him up though.
My first game at the Swamp was FSU, 1967, I think. An adult neighbor hoisted me over wall at the north end zone, then he clambered over.
And some those unexpected losses were to Vandy and Kentucky on cool Fall days. The worse for me was NC State. While rolling up over 500 yards of offense a bushel baskets of fumbles lead to a loss, 8-7 I believe. It was a long time ago.
